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Short Circuiting The System: An Interview with Le Shok

Photo by Charlotte Beck

Interview conducted with Rusty (Bass), Todd (Vocals), Andrew (Guitar), Darryl (Keyboards)

Shock Treatment: You guys cover the song “122 Hours of Fear” by The Screamers that’s about the hijacking of Flight 181 from the viewpoint of the hostages. I was once stuck on Goofy’s Sky School at Disneyland for an hour so I can totally relate to that song. When was the last time you were held hostage?

Rusty: Look, man, we said we’d do your interview as long as you release us after we answer the questions. You don’t gotta be creepy about the fact you still got us locked up in this basement.


Shock Treatment: In the 1982 film Le Choc, a hit man invests in a Turkey Farm. When you guys retire from Le Shock, what kind of farm would you want to invest in?
 
Rusty: A condom farm. Safe sex is gonna make a comeback, and I’m gonna be there to corner the market. I’ll be rich, and I’m gonna pretend I don’t know you losers

Photo by Gina Russo

Shock Treatment: Alain Delon, star of Le Choc, was expelled from schools because of rebellious behavior. Where have you ever been expelled from for rebellious behavior?

Todd: Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, The Thirteenth Floor in Sunset Beach, the Glass House in Pomona (the last time we played there was a mess), Big Lots on Bellflower Blvd


Shock Treatment: Le Shok is from Long Beach, like Snoop Dogg. What similar qualities as musicians do you feel you share with Snoop?

Darryl: The Synthesizer mainly, but it’s also pretty obvious that we were both heavily influenced by Suburban Lawns, who happen to be from Long Beach as well.


Shock Treatment: I once heard someone describe a band's music as having “golden retriever melodies”. If you could compare Le Shock’s music to a breed of dog, which would it be and why?

Andrew: We often get compared to a cross between Cujo and Old Yeller.

Rusty: Does hot dog count as a breed?


Shock Treatment: Johnny Witmer once told me that GSL Records bands were the “original hipsters.” Since you guys had a record on GSL, I want to ask you what is the one accessory a true hipster should never leave home without?

Andrew: Tough question. Maybe those coke mirrors that The Locust sold?

 

Shock Treatment: Tell me about the last time you felt an inanimate object was evil and how you defeated or embraced this evil?

Darryll: I recently started playing the accordion in a band known as Murdered Ghost


Shock Treatment: You guys have had split 7”s with The Stitches, Electric Frankenstein, Ink And Dagger and The C.I.A. Which of these bands do you think would win in a Warriors style street brawl and why?

Andrew: Easy answer: The Stitches. I would hate to be on the wrong side of Johnny Witmer and Action Man Pete Archer.

Rusty: Stitches in a brawl, C.I.A. for the miles of running around the city, Ink & Dagger for the cool look and iconic catchphrase everyone quotes.

Photo by Gina Russo

Shock Treatment: You guys played at Burger Boogaloo back in 2018. What were some of the best and worst parts about that experience?

Andrew: The best part was having John Waters introduce us before we played. After we were done Fred Armisen who was playing drums with DEVO at the show, came up to us excitedly telling us how much he liked us, and kept asking how we were able to break so many guitars on stage. Meeting Fink from Teengenerate was a personal highlight. And the worst part of the experience was running out of guitars and basses.


Shock Treatment: You guys are playing some shows here and there. Are there any plans for releasing any new musical discs to quench the thirst of your rabid fanbase?

Andrew: We’re going to have a new/old flexi 7” released for our show at The Glass House. It’ll be our version of “No Fun at the Beaches” by The Chosen Few.

Photo by Charlotte Beck

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